If one considers the neutrino results as a quantum level event, with the neutrinos popping in and out of existence as they transform from one state to another, then there is no FTL, though the effect is to allow the neutrinos to arrive earlier.

Unfortunately, while I have some knowledge of QM, it’s not rigorous enough(ie, my math skills aren’t up to the calculations) to decide if this proposition has any validity,,,it merely derives from my visual imagery of the event.

So, any quantum physicists out there want to demolish this idea? It should be easy enough,,,

Its ionosphere separates the atmosphere from outer space and the solar wind. This ionized layer excludes the solar magnetic field, giving Venus a distinct magnetic environment. This is considered Venus’ induced magnetosphere. Lighter gases, including water vapor, are continuously blown away by the solar wind through the induced magnetotail.

so I’m unsure and think there’s still an awful lot of uncertainty surrounding that issue.

@2. Wzrd1 : November 25th, 2011 at 7:50 am

Oh, Phil, your blog is the only traffic permitted from Discover’s networks after Discover began airing and permitting blogs from antivaxers, complete with editorial backing and incessant lies spouted on the comments on Tara Smith’s blog by Discover editors. It took some effort to keep your blog operational, but all other Discover traffic is blocked by our web filters, to prevent further spread of that poison.

I guess that’s been fixed because I can access the other Discover blogs now & would presume others can too. Just in case folks wanted that situation updated.

]]>By: Grand Lunarhttp://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2011/11/25/the-sun-blows-some-gas-to-venus/#comment-315032
Fri, 25 Nov 2011 23:55:57 +0000http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/?p=40817#comment-315032I wonder if we can take advantage of this and see how the solar activity effects the Venusian atmosphere.
]]>By: Gary Ansorgehttp://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2011/11/25/the-sun-blows-some-gas-to-venus/#comment-315031
Fri, 25 Nov 2011 18:21:29 +0000http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/?p=40817#comment-315031Far out photos. Way cool!

Latest tests of the FTL neutrinos appears to substantiate the FTL. I expect the FTL aspect has nothing to do with FTL(in space/time) as such. I’m inclined to ascribe these results to quantum indeterminacy, ie, where the neutrino is when it’s changing from a muon to a tau neutrino. I doubt it can be in both states simultaneously so, where does the energy of the neutrino go during that transition?
Does it “disappear” into the quantum foam? Could it not just instantaneously re-appear further along its flight path, possibly accounting for the 60 ns differential?

If this has ANY validity, it might allow for effective FTL communications, just by oscillating the neutrinos from one state to another, gaining 60ns with each transition. It might also show a relation between the energy of the particle and how far it advances during the transition.

This is a proposition, not a theory,,,but it’s fun to think about how such a minimal effect could lead to kinda/sorta FTL.

Gary 7

]]>By: Polohttp://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2011/11/25/the-sun-blows-some-gas-to-venus/#comment-315030
Fri, 25 Nov 2011 17:22:00 +0000http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/?p=40817#comment-315030When the flare colapses the material seems to travel millions of kilometers in a second (not possible obviously)… do you know how fast it is going?
]]>By: Wzrd1http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2011/11/25/the-sun-blows-some-gas-to-venus/#comment-315029
Fri, 25 Nov 2011 14:50:02 +0000http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/?p=40817#comment-315029The sun has been rather active this week, with several CME’s lifting off. Fortunately, they’ve largely missed the Earth or we’d have some degree of inconvenience with satellite operations.
Solar maximum is coming and if the wind-up is any indication, we’ll get to see quite a show when it peaks.

Oh, Phil, your blog is the only traffic permitted from Discover’s networks after Discover began airing and permitting blogs from antivaxers, complete with editorial backing and incessant lies spouted on the comments on Tara Smith’s blog by Discover editors.
It took some effort to keep your blog operational, but all other Discover traffic is blocked by our web filters, to prevent further spread of that poison.

Won’t the plasma from this prominence ultimately join the solar wind and thus travel as far as Pluto’s orbit and, indeed, beyond that to the heliopause (possibly just about lapping up against the Voyager spaceprobes as they speed out of the solar system – eventually?) where it will mix with the interstellar medium?

*****

PS. Curiousity launch countdown now at 1 day, 11 minutes and 11 seconds with a 70% chance of good weather & all systems go.